Apparatus, method and computer software product for analyzing the operation of complex systems

Abstract

In a method, apparatus and computer software product for monitoring the operation of program-controlled devices, the formal parameters resulting from a use of input aids are logged as are the logical parameters triggered in programs of the program-controlled device as a result of the use of the input aids, and the formal and logical parameters are linked to form a monitoring profile. A data output is determined from the monitoring profile according to designated criteria.

I claim as my invention:  
     
         1 . A method for monitoring operation of a program-controlled device, comprising the steps of: 
 logging formal parameters entered into a program-controlled device resulting from use of an input aid and logging logical parameters triggered in a program of said program-controlled device as a result of said use of said input aid;    linking said formal parameters and said logical parameters to form a monitoring profile; and    determining output data for output from said monitoring profile according to at least one designated criterion.    
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising logging said formal parameters contemporaneously with entry thereof into said program-controlled device.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising logging said formal parameters and said logical parameters respectively combined with an indication of respective points in time at which said formal parameters were entered and said logical parameters were triggered.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising logging said formal parameters and logging said logical parameters together with a designation of a user of said input aid.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising including a designation of a type of said input aid in said formal parameters.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising including details describing said program-controlled device in said monitoring profile.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising determining said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of a repeated triggering of identical logical parameters.  
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising determining said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of an undo of previously triggered logical parameters.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising determining said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of an attempted input of illegal value combinations in said formal parameters.  
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising determining said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of a time span between triggering of two of said logical parameters.  
     
     
         11 . A computer software product for monitoring operation of a program-controlled device, comprising: 
 a first registration routine for registering formal parameters resulting from usage of an input aid to enter said formal parameters into a program-controlled device;    a second registration routine for registering logical parameters triggered in programs of said program-controlled device as a result of said usage of said input aid;    a logic routine for linking said formal parameters and said logical parameters to form a monitoring profile; and    an output routine for generating output data from said monitoring profile according to at least one designated criterion.    
     
     
         12 . A computer software product as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said first registration routine registers said formal parameters contemporaneously with entry of said formal parameters into said program-controlled device.  
     
     
         13 . A computer software product as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said first registration routine registers said formal parameters together with an indication of respective points in time at which said formal parameters were entered into said program-controlled device, and wherein said second registration routine registers said logical parameters together with an indication of respective points in time at which said logical parameters were triggered in said programs of said program-controlled device.  
     
     
         14 . A computer software product as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said first registration routine and said second registration routine respectively register said formal parameters and said logical parameters combined with an indication of user of said input aid.  
     
     
         15 . A computer software product as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said first registration routine registers said formal parameters together with details identifying a type of said input aid.  
     
     
         16 . A computer software product as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said logic routine generates said monitoring profile to include details describing said program-controlled device.  
     
     
         17 . A computer software product as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said output routine determines said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of a repeated triggering of identical logical parameters.  
     
     
         18 . A computer software product as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said output routine determines said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of an undo of previously triggered logical parameters.  
     
     
         19 . A computer software product as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said output routine determines said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of an attempted entry of illegal value combinations of said formal parameters.  
     
     
         20 . A computer software product as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said output routine determines said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of a time span between triggering of two of said logical parameters.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a program-controlled device operated by a microprocessor connected to an input aid, said microprocessor executing at least one computer program dependent on usage of said input aid;    an output device connected to said microprocessor for displaying output data from said microprocessor; and    said computer program product programming said microprocessor to executed a first registration routine for registering formal parameters resulting from said usage of said input aid, and to execute a second registration routine for registering logical parameters triggered in said program resulting from said usage of said input aid, and to execute a logic routine for linking said formal parameters and said logical parameters to form a monitoring profile, and to execute an output routine for supplying said output data to said output device according to at least one designated criterion.    
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said first registration routine causes said microprocessor to log said formal parameters contemporaneously with entry of said formal parameters.  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said first registration routine causes said microprocessor to log said formal parameters together with an indication of respective points in time at which said formal parameters were entered and wherein said second registration routine causes said microprocessor to log said logical parameters together with an indication of respective points in time at which said logical parameters were triggered.  
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said first and second registration routines causes said microprocessor to log said formal parameters and said logical parameters together with an indication of a user of said input aid.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said first registration routine causes said microprocessor to log said formal parameters together with a designation of a type of said input aid.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said logic routine causes said microprocessor to generate said monitoring profile with details describing said program-controlled device.  
     
     
         27 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said output routine causes said microprocessor to determine said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of a repeated triggering of identical logical parameters.  
     
     
         28 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said output routine causes said microprocessor to determine said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of an undo of previously triggered logical parameters.  
     
     
         29 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said output routine causes said microprocessor to determine said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of an attempted entry of illegal value combinations of said formal parameters.  
     
     
         30 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said output routine causes said microprocessor to determine said output data from said monitoring profile according to the designated criterion of a time span between triggering of two of said logical parameters.